Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 02.djvu/281

BURMA 247 BT7BMA over 800 miles. In their lower courses the rivers often overflow their banks in the rainy season. Though its resources are almost entirely undeveloped, the country, as a whole, is productive, es- pecially in the lower portions. Here grow rice, sugar cane, tobacco, cotton, indigo, etc. Cotton is gi"own almost amber, and jade are also obtained. Among wild animals are the elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, deer of vari- ous kinds, and the Vild hog. Among domestic animals are the ox, buffalo, horse, and elephant. The rivers abound with fish. The most common fruits are the guava, custard apple; tamarindj TEMPLE OF THREE HUNDRED LIONS AT SAGAING, BURMA everywhere; tea is cultivated in many of the more elevated parts. The forests produce timber of many sorts, including teak, which grows most luxuriantlj% and is largely exported. Ironwood is another valuable timber; and among forest prod- ucts are also the bamboo, cutch, sticklac, and rubber. Burma has great mineral wealth — gold, silver, precious stones, iron, marble, lead, tin, coal, petroleum, etc.; but these resources have not yet been much developed. The chief pre- cious stone is the ruby, and the mines of this gem belong to the crown. Sapphire, pine, orange, banana, jack, and mango. The yam and sweet potato are culti- vated j and in some parts the common po- tato. The climate, of course, varies ac- cording to elevation and other circum- stances, but, as a whole, is warm, though not unhealthful, except in low, jungly districts. The rainfall among the mountains reaches as high as 190 inches per annum. The population may be stated at about 12,000.000, made up of a gi-eat variety of races besides the Burmese proper, as Talaings, Shans, Karens, etc. The Bur-